Padlock



May l, 1945.

H. J. DEQUlcK PADLOCK Filed Feb. 8, 1943 'f". @L a Patented May 1, 1945Henry J. Dequick, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to The Illinois Lock Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 8, 1943,Serial No. 475,116

9 claims.. (c1. vo-ss') This invention relates to a key-operated padlockof the type which utilizes a shackle slidable inwardly and outwardlyrelative to the padlock body, and is concerned with various features ofimprovement by which to enhance the protective capacity of the lock, bywhich to assure its dependable operation over a long period of service,and by which to simplify assembly (also disassembly) of the lock partsWithin the body or casing therefor. More particularly, I aim, by asimple and rugged mechanism, to provide dual locking devices engageableand disengageable simultaneously with both arms of the shackle; todevise an effective block and gear assembly which may serve as the duallocking devices; to utilize for the gears a transmission in the form ofa bolt' having means by which to facilitate an operative connection Withthe block-gear assembly and a resilient connection with the lock body;to employ between the bolt and an operating cylinder plug therefor alost-motion driving connection whichserves also to maintain these partsaxially aligned; to apply'to the parts comprising the transmission atension force which is exerted also upon the cylinder plug whereby toprevent lost motion or rattling between all of such parts; and to securethe cylinder plug in place irremovably by a split spring ring havingspecial provision for release of the plug in response to manipulation bya key designed particularly for the purpose.

These and other objects of my invention may be realized from theconstruction of padlock such as is illustrated, by way of example, inthe accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a view in vertical sectionand perspective of the padlock in its locked position;

. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views, the former showing the locking partsretracted by keyoperation of the lock to free the shackle forlongitudinal movement into or outv of the lock body, these same parts,in the latter view, being in the position which they occupy followingrelease of torsion force by the key with the shackle fully advanced outof the lock body;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the cylinder plug-bolt-driving gearassembly, these parts being axially aligned but in slightly spacedrelation; and

Fig. 7 is a View `in perspective of the gear block per se.

As shown, I utilize a body A wherein is an elongatedcylindrical'chamber'a` opening on to the upper endof the body, a secondcylindrical chamber b, in spaced parallel relation thereto, opening onto the same body end, and a third cylindrical chamber` c, parallel`withr theothers, opening on to the opposite body end, `and in offset,but communicating, relation to the second chamber. `Between the rst andsecond chambers is a transverse passageway d in communication With eachand with the third chamber which is' made of relatively largerdiameter.- If this passageway continue on to one or both edges of thebody A, then a plug (or'plugs) I0 may be secured in place to provide anend closure (or closuresltherefor.

`Within the third chamber is fitted a cylinder plug B which may be ofthe usual sliding tumbler type. As by means of aA suitable key (notshown) the plug may be operated to project its tumblers I I oppositelyinto positions within arcuate channels IZ and I3 extending lengthwisewithin the chamber whereby to secure the plug against rotary'movement.At the inner end of the plug is a head I5 formed with a circumferentialgroove I6 wherein maybe seated a, split spring ring C Whose two ends I 8are outwardly turned to lie substantially parallel. In diametricallyopposite regions, each about 90 distant from its twoends,

the ring is provided with two' outwardly extended arcuate protrusions I9adapted to lie-Within a pairV of arcuate grooves 20 formed interiorly ofthe chamber c in a plane transversely of its axis. When the cylindricalplug is tted in place,

the spring ring will be seated Within the cylinadapted to engagealternately the opposite ends of a second lug 26, extending arcuatelyabout the same axis through or so, and carried upon a cylindrical bolt Dwhich is rotatably tted inlthe chamber C in coaxial relationship withthe cylinder plug. A head 2'I is also formed on the bolt, spaced fromthe lug 26, the outer peripheral faces of this head and lug beingsubstantially coincident with the confronting walls of the chamber YjoinY the shoulder is coiled about the bolt with its two ends anchoredrespectively thereto'(as in the slot 29) and to the.

lock lbody (as in the channel I3). Due to tension of the spring the boltis normally maintained vin a xed rotative position relative4 to theplug., so as to move therewith, but may, in response to a counter`force, move through a limited distance-90 being the limit hereinVindicated. Extending axially beyond the independently thereof bolt head21 is a cylindrical stem 30 terminating in a diametrical tongue 3|. Itwill be observed that the cylinder plug B isdevoid of any'connectionwith the bolt D, and the latter is unconnected with the body withinwhose chamber c it is accommodated, exceptfor one end o'f the spring 26which is free to slide in and out of the channel I3 whenever the bolt isin process of insertion Awithin or removal from the padlock body.

The passageway d is adapted to receive a block E in thegeneral form of aplate having anges depending from its opposite sides and posts 36upstanding from its four corners, whereby to serve as spacers vvforengaging the bottom and top faces, respectively, of the passageway. Thelength of the block is substantially equal ,to the distance between theaxes of the chambers a and b, so that, at opposite ends thereof', I haveprovided arcuate' notches '.31 whereby to assure a registration of thecurved faces vthus for-med with the adjacent walls of these twochambers. Through the 'block in one end region thereof is a circular.hole 38 and in a corresponding position in the other end region is anupstanding circular 'boss 39. The axis of the hole 38 is substantiallycoincidentwith that of `the chamber c so as to freely receive the stem30 projecting from the bolt D and furnish a supporting bearing therefor;1

The upper face of the block Vaiords a mounting for a pair of meshinggears Fand G, the former being providedv with a flattened central'opening llnwherein ythe tongue 3| may be received to transmit a'rotaryforce `thereto whereby it may drive the second gear wherein is an axialhole I through which is extended the boss 39 about which this gear isfreely rotatable. One fullradius section of the periphery of the drivinggear F is arcuate concentrically with 'its axis, an adjacent flatsection 46 'is ldisposed tangentially to a shorter radius, and a thirdsection, extending between a pair of shoulders 41 and 48, is providedwith teeth 49. Thedriven gear G is formed in one section, betweenshoulders V5|) v and 5|, with teeth 52 meshing with those on thecompaniondriving gearF, with an adjacent flat section 53 tangential toashorter'ra'dius, one end of the flattened, section beingprovided aprojecting heel 54,l andV with a third. section 55 of' fullradiusextending from 'the heel arcuately concentrically with the axis ofthegear to Two meshing gears so formed will have capacity for rotarymovement through approximately 90 from the position of Fig. 2 to that ofFig. 3 and vice versa, the limits being reached upon interengagement of'the shoulders 4B and 50 (Fig. 2) or 41 and '5| (Fig. 3). In the positionof Fig. 3, following operation of the cylinder plug, the two flats 46and '53 occupy parallel furthest removed positions and the arcs 45 and55 adjacent postions along one of the longer sides of the block; whereasin-Fig. 2 the positions of the two flats and two arcs are substantiallyreversed.

To complete the padlock I employ a` shackle H having long and short armsand 6|, respectively, the former receivable within the chamber a and thelatter within the chamber b. Each arm V:is-by preference formed ofcylindrical stock having a diameter very slightly smaller than that ofythe two Ychambers so as to be freely slidable longitudinally thereof.In the two shackle arms are facing transverse concave notches 62 and 63each accommodating the full-radius arc section of the proximate gearwhen the parts are in the normal locking position of Fig. 2. Effectiveresti-aint aga-inst longitudinal movement of the shackle is therebyprovided for each of its two arms." In the other extreme position,however (Fig. 3), this means ofrestraint, i. e., the fullradius arcs, iswithdrawn, the flats (tangential to shorter radii) then lying opposite,but exteriorly of, the two notches whereby the shackle is free forlongitudinal movement. For a limited distance from the notch 63 the longarm is flattened, as at 64, along'its inner face and then beveledinwardly at 65 to join a neck 66 of reduced diameter' which adjoins atransverse shoulder 5l`r beyond ywhich full diameter of the shackle isagain resumed. Such alconstruction permits the shackle, when fullyadvanced outwardly, to swing freely through 360 since (a) its short armis then free of thepadlock body, (b) the flat '53 of the gear G willpreventthe shackle from advancing outwardly'beyondv the point ofengagement of the shoulder 61 therewith, and (c) the neck 560irelatively small diameter will be disposedy opposite this gear which isthen-'incapable of opposing swinging movement of the shackle about theaxis ofits longer leg.

In operation, the key-operated cylinder plug 4 will, under inuence ofthe spring 28, tend to return the parts tothe normal locking position ofFig. 2. So long as the shackle remains in its out position this cannottakeplace, but only a very slight return movement (see Fig. 4) insofaras permitted by play .between the operating parts.

In .this last position vthe heel 54l will be advanced against the neck66 to act as a brake against toofree swinging movement of-the shackle.rTo restore the shackle to locked condition, its short arm is iirstbrought to position opposite the chamber b, which thereupon places thelong arm flat 66 andgear iiat 53 opposite each other to. clear the wayfor in movement of the shackle in response to a force suiiicient (a) tooverbalance counter tension of a spring l0 which'is conned between theendfof the shackle long arm rand the end of the chamber a, and (b) todisplace the heel 54 of the driven gear as the beveled face 65 isadvanced therealong. 'v

By the' improved lconstruction herein :disclcsed, Iprovide forsimultaneously locking and unlocking both arms ofthe shackle, therebyobviously enhancing the protective capacity of the padlock; the lockingdevices used are in the form o f two meshing gears which provide,through interengaging means, their own stops for limiting the movementrange to the desired distance, here indicated as approximately I utilizea single spring exerting its force from the cylinder-plug through thebolt and locking devices, whereby all' such parts are prevented normallyfrom rattling or moving onewith respect to another; the

construction of the parts, which are durable, simple and sturdy, and thearrangement thereof, are such as to facilitate their assembly, and alsodisassembly' by one who possesses the requisite knowledge andimplements. In this connection it should be noted that assembly involves(1) fitting of the shackle H in place, then (2) positioning ofthe blockE, with gears in place thereon, within the transverse passageway, andthen (3) insertion of the cylinder plug B with bolt D iitted thereon.Securement of the closure plugs ID is a iinal operation. Accuratepositioning of 'the block is assured when it engages the shackle longarm, the driving gear F then being axially aligned with the stem 30 tofacilitate fitting of its tongue 3l into the elongated opening 40 ofthis gear. To disassemble, the shackle short arm is first removed fromthe chamber b to expose the upper end of the channel I'2; a thin key 22is then inserted into the channel to the point of engaging, within theV-slot 2l at its acting end, the outturned ends of the split ring whichis thereupon contracted suiiiciently to permit release of the cylinderplug Vfrom the chamber c. Withdrawal of the bolt D may readily follow,andwith this part removed the block E may be shifted endwise away from`the long arm of the shackle a distance sufficient to free the shacklefor separation from the padlock body.

I claim:

1. The combination with a padlock of the type wherein the body isprovided with two communicating chambers opening on to opposite ends ofthe body, and with a third chamber opening on to one body end forreceiving the long arm of a shackle whose short arm is receivable in theother chamber which opens on to the same end of the body, and with atransverse passageway communicating with all three chambers the last ofwhich is occupied by a cylinder plug, of an arcuate lug extended beyondthe inner end of the plug concentrically with the axis thereof, a boltcoaxially rotatable with the plug beyond its inner end and receivingbearing from the arcuate lug thereof and provided with spaced meansextending toward the plug for alternate engagement for 'alternateengagement with opposite ends of the means thereonvwith sufficient playtherebetween the confine to definite limits relative rotation betweenthe plug and bolt, a spring connecting'the bolt and body tending to-rotate the former to one extreme position, interconnected dual lockingdevices comprising interrneshingv Vgears rotatable about parallel axesone of .which is coaxial with the plug, each of the gears beingenlgageable with one arm of the shackle, and means catingchambersopening on to opposite'ends of the'body, and with athird chamber openingon to one body endfor lreceiving the long arm of a shackle whose shortarm is receivable inthe other chamber which opensv on to the same end v.of thebody, and with a transverse passageway communicating with allthree chambers the'last of which is occupied by a cylinder plug fromwhicha transmission including a non-round stem is extended axially intothe passageway, of an elongated mounting block receivable within thepassageway and extended between the two arms of the shackle forconfinement therebetween and formed near one end with a projectingcircular boss andvnear the other end with an opening throughwhich thestem is extensible to receive bearing therefrom, and a pair of mutilatedmeshing gears carried on the mounting block one formed with an axialopening for fitting over the boss and the other with an axial openingfor fitting over the stem in non-rotatable engagement therewith, theteeth of the two gears being extended through a limited range forconfining ro- 40 tation of the gears to a iixed distance, two porwithopposite ends of the lug thereon with suflil cient play therebetween toconfine to definite limits relative rotation between the plug and bolt,a spring connecting the bolt and body tending to rotate the former toone extreme position wherein one of its spaced means is in engagementwith one end of the lug, interconnected dual locking devices, oneengageable with each arm of the shackle, and means on the boltoperatively connected therewith adapted, in response to rotation of theplug, to produce concurrent operation of the locking devices.

2. The combination with a padlock of the type wherein the body isprovided with two communicating chambers opening on to opposite ends ofthe body, and with a third chamber opening on to one body end forreceiving the long arm of a shackle whose short arm is receivable in theother chamber which opens on to the same end of the body, and with atransverse passageway communicating with all three chambers the last ofwhich is occupied by a cylinder plug, of a bolt coaxially rotatable withthe plug beyond its inner end, coacting means on the plug and boltadapted tions of the periphery of each gear being extended outwardlydifferent distances one of which is less, and the other more, than theradial distances to the proximate shackle arms in each Vof which is atransverse slot wherein a portion of the associated gear of maximumradial distance may enter when rotated to one extreme position and outof which it is moved when rotated to the other extreme position.

4. The combination with a padlock of the type wherein the body isprovided with two communicating chambers opening on to opposite endsA ofthe body, and with a third chamber opening on to one body'end forreceiving the long arm of a shackle whose short arm is receivable intheother chamber which opens on to the same end of the body, and with atransverse passageway communicating with all three chambers the last ofwhich is occupied by a cylinder plug from which a transmission includinga stem is extended axially into the passageway, of an elongated mountingblock receivable within the passageway and extended between the two armsof the shackle for confinement therebetween and formed near one end witha projecting circular boss and near the other end with an openingthrough which the stem is extensible to receive bearing therefrom, and apair of meshing gears carried on the mounting vblock one formed with anaxial opening for tting over vthe boss and the other with an axialOpening for fitting over the stem in non-rotatable engagement therewith,coacting means on the two gears for confining rotation thereof to afixed distance, two portions of the periphery of at least one gear beingex- 'tended outwardly diierent distances oneof which is less, andtheother more, than the radial distance to theproximat'e-shackle-arm in.which is a transverse slot wherein'a portion of the'associated gear ofmaximum radial distance may enter when rotated to onev extremepositionand out of whichit is moved when rotated to the other extremeposition. i

5. In a padlock, av body having intercommunicating chambersandtherewithin two arms of a shackle, multiple locking devicescomprising intermeshing gears rotatable to engage and disen' gage botharms of the shackle, a cylinder plug rotatable in response to actuationof a key, .a rotary bolt inoperative connection with the locking devicesand with the plug,and a spring. interconnecting the bolt and body andexerting there-v from opposing tensionA forces tending'to preventrelative motion between the plug,l bolt and locking devices. 1

6. In a padlock, a body having a pair of shackle chambers opening uponone end thereof, and a.

transverse'passa/gewayiextending between the'v two chambers,` a shacklehaving two arms one receivable .within eachchamber and -formed withopposed notches, a pairfof meshing gears mounted for rotation betweenthe two shackle arms and formed with coacting shoulders providing stopsfor eonning their rotative movements to a fixed range, and locking meanson each gear movable therewith into and out of engagement with the notchon the proximate shackle arm'alternately to secure the shackle againstendwise movement relative to the body.

8. In a padlock, a shackle formed in its two arms with opposed notches,a rpair of interconn ected lockingl gears one engageable with a notch ofeachshackle arm, a rotatable cylinder plug operable .by a key, and arotatable transmission extending between the plug and one gear and incoaxial -relation therewith. v

9.A In. a padlock, a shackle formed in its two arms withopposed notches,a mountingI block disposed between the shackle arms and formed near oneend with a circular boss and near its other end with a circular hole, apair of meshing gears on the block formed Awith openings in registerwith the boss and hole, respectively, one gear being tted rotatable uponthe boss, means carried by the gears for engaging and disengaging theshackle arm notches, and means for operating the gears comprising acylindrical stem extending through the block hole and into'the proximategear opening and serving both as a mounting and driving means therefor.

HENRYJ. DEQUICK.

